By Phil Huff
March 17 2009

The final hurdle to Brawn GP making it to the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the season, has been cleared, with the FIA recognising Brawn GP as the official entrant to replace the outgoing Honda Racing F1 team.

At today's World Motor Sports Council meeting, the teams entry was one point of discussion, aside from changing the points systems again, introducing cost caps, altering testing rules and many other such items.

In a brief statement, the FIA said: "The Honda Racing F1 Team requested to change its name to the Brawn GP Formula One Team. The WMSC accepted this request on the basis that the team is, in effect, a new entry in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The contract the team had with the FIA was to run as ‘Honda’, which they are no longer in a position to do. However, the standard fee required for a new entry has been waived."

Whilst the WMSC are choosing to see the team as a new entry, we understand that the financial side is seen somewhat differently, with the team expecting the usual share of television revenue and travel expenses, something a new team must usually forego.